Social & Economic Inequalities Flashcards
Is America a capitalist country?
Yes.
This means that Americans are allowed to keep the majority of the money that they earn.
Give examples of social inequalities
Health
Education
Crime
Give examples of economic inequalities
Employment
Levels of poverty
Describe the healthcare system in America
The USA doesn’t have a National Health Service like the UK. People have to pay for private health insurance for themselves or get a job where their employer will pay it for them. The USA is the only industrialised country in the world without a universal health system.
Why are there inequalities within health?
Cost of medical treatment
The lack of insurance cover
Being in jobs which do not include health care
Having a lifestyle affected by poverty and crime
Are there health inequalities between ethnic groups?
Yes. There are inequalities between whites and ethnic minorities (especially blacks and Hispanics)
What is the The Affordable Care Act?
Also known as Obamacare. President Obama proposed a bill which was passed by Congress in 2010 to provide an extra 30 million of the poorest Americans which healthcare coverage.
Give an example of an argument for Obamacare
Includes provisions to stop insurance companies cancelling your coverage if you get sick.
The law helps small businesses pay for health insurance for their employees.
Give an example of an argument against Obamacare
You cannot force people to buy health insurance - Republicans argue that this is unconstitutional.
Why do housing inequalities still exist?
Due to segregation. Segregation means people being separated based on race.
Where are some of the most segregated cities in the USA?
New York (most segregated)
San Francisco
Los Angeles
Detroit
What are the problems created due to segregation?
Children grow up without experience of different cultures and may develop a bad attitude to people of different cultures because being isolated and separated doesn’t give them a chance to mix with people form a different race.
Why do educational inequalities still exist?
Schools in poorer areas are given less resources and under qualified teachers. There are noticeable differences between ethnics minority’s in terms of educational attainment.
What is Affirmative Action?
It was introduced by the Government to encourage institutions and organisations to actively engage in correcting the racial injustices of the past.
What are social and economic inequalities?
Issues that impact and affect the public. It is about inequality and uneven distribution of wealth.
